'MEGHAN MARKLE'S NETFLIX CHRISTMAS SPECIAL NEEDS HOLLYWOOD LEGEND TO SUCCEED'

Meghan Markle's future in reality TV hangs in the balance, according to a Royal commentator, who suggests that her upcoming Christmas special needs to feature a Hollywood A-lister to avoid being "doomed". The Duchess of Sussex's latest Netflix project, 'With Love, Meghan: Holiday', is set to debut on Wednesday, 3 December, just two days before Kate Middleton's annual 'Together at Christmas' event at Westminster Abbey.

Richard Fitzwilliams, former editor of the International Who's Who, believes that Meghan, 44, must up her game following the lukewarm reception of the first two series of 'With Love', despite it featuring Prince Harry. Despite the initial series making it into the Netflix Global Top 10 for TV shows upon its release in March and ranking as the 389th most-watched show in the first half of 2025, the second series failed to crack the Top 10.

Speaking to the Mirror, he said: "She has not made a great success of With Love so far " adding, "so her Christmas show is a test because if she doesn't get an A-lister for it, it's doomed."

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A teaser trailer for the new episode, released last month, offered fans a glimpse of what's to come, including brief appearances from Prince Harry, 41, and tennis star Naomi Osaka.

In the voiceover for the clip, Meghan expresses her fondness for the festive season, saying, "I love the holiday season. It's about finding time to connect with the people we love, embracing traditions, and making new ones. Let the festivities commence and embrace the special touches that bring you joy."

Previous guests on her earlier series of With Love featured stars such as Chrissy Teigen and Mindy Kaling, along with makeup artist Daniel Martin and renowned chef Samin Nostrat.

Richard explained to us that in his opinion, one of Meghan's most significant challenges is her inability to "can't break into the A-list" circle. He pointed to her recent Paris visit for the Balenciaga fashion show as evidence of her attempts to tackle this issue.

"It made perfect sense, because there she was with Anna Wintour, with Anne Hathaway and with Baz Luhrmann," he explained. "It was a very high-profile event and there's nothing wrong in attending an event of that sort.

"But if you look at all her podcasts and her Netflix episodes, you do not find well known names. As far as I can see, she has got one A-list friend, Serena Williams, who she has been friends with for a long time, but she hasn't got A-list backing in Hollywood."

In other Royal news, Kate and William, both 43, are gearing up to record the Princess of Wales' Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey on Friday. The fifth annual celebration boasts a stellar roster of confirmed attendees - including Kate Winslet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Hannah Waddingham and Prince William, who will deliver seasonal readings to a gathering of fellow royals and charity representatives from various causes linked to the Royal family.

The theme of "the power of love and togetherness" has been selected for this year's event, with organisers explaining that in a world that often feels fragmented, love is the binding force that reconnects us all.

Kensington Palace released a statement saying, "This year, the Service will bring people together to celebrate love in all its forms - whether it's love within families, through friendships, across communities, or even through powerful moments of connection with strangers."

The statement further read, "This year, Her Royal Highness wanted to recognise and thank the many people around the country who are acting with love in their communities, contributing to a more cohesive and connected society."

Prince William is set to deliver a reading to the congregation of 1,600 attendees. The musical line-up includes 'Nine Million Bicycles' singer-songwriter Katie Melua, Cornish folk band Fisherman's Friends, and up-and-coming artist Griff.

With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration airs on December 3

2025-12-02T10:45:22Z